Emanating from the mid
70's Punk ridden East End of London, IRON MAIDEN challenged the New Wave by
delivering highly charged, no compromise Heavy Metal. Within a few short years
IRON MAIDEN had eclipsed all others to gain the undisputed title of the biggest
British Heavy Metal band. IRON MAIDEN would reign unchallenged until an
unwelcome change of frontman in the mid 90's.

Formed by bassist Steve Harris and taking their name from a spiked coffin
torture device IRON MAIDEN underwent many personnel changes from their initial
1975 line-up. Harris started out as part of INFLUENCE, a band that soon adopted
the title of GYPSY'S KISS in time for their debut gig in 1972 performed by the
band line-up comprising of vocalist Bob Verschoyle, guitarist Dave Smith,
bassist Harris and drummer Paul Sears.

In the main, GYPSY'S KISS gigs were centred around the London pub circuit and
the band featured many covers in their set from the likes of DEEP PURPLE and
FREE.

Paul Mario Day was soon ousted in favour of ex SMILER and WARLOCK vocalist
Dennis Wilcock who added lurid stage theatrics, such as garish make-up and blood
spurting to the act. Rance and Sullivan also lost their positions to guitarists
Dave Murray (previously with EVIL WAY) and Bob 'Angelo' Sawyer. Mario Day later
fronted MORE and the SWEET.

A matter of months passed before Sawyer was out and Murray's initial tenure was
also short-lived as within six months he had joined URCHIN and IRON MAIDEN
became a single guitar band recruiting ex HOOKER musician Terry Wapram and also
adding keyboardist Tony Moor. However, Ron Matthews left, later turning up in
TORMÉ for a live album in 1994 and much later in 1999 as part of ATOMIC
ROOSTER.

In his stead came Barry Purkis. IRON MAIDEN's new drummer had a heritage with
numerous acts dating back to INOMINE PATRIS in 1972 but this revised line-up
only completed one gig.

With both Moore and Wapram leaving for pastures new, Dave Murray was enticed
back from URCHIN, although the line-up ructions were far from over as Wilcock
quit followed by Purkis. The latter adopted the stage name of THUNDERSTICK and
joined Blues Rock orientated competitors SAMSON, whilst Wilcock united with ex
IRON MAIDEN guitarist Terry Wapram to form VI.

IRON MAIDEN was re-assembled
during 1978 bringing in ex-SMILER drummer Doug Sampson and adding former BIRD
OF PREY vocalist PAUL DIANNO for a stable group that throughout 1979 employed
a variety of second guitarists. Included were Paul Cairns, Paul Todd and Tony
Parsons, although the main quartet were the men who cut the legendary
'Soundhouse Tapes' EP which sold well through mail order and at live gigs.

Live shows at this point included a debut headliner at London's Marquee club
plus a valuable support to MOTÖRHEAD. Interest was such that IRON MAIDEN
began what was to be a lengthy relationship with EMI Records when the band,
with Parsons at this point, scored two tracks on the 1979 NWOBHM compilation
album 'Metal For Muthas'.

EMI signed the band in December of 1979 following a further batch of sold out
Marquee headliners, having by now enjoyed being championed by 'Sounds' and
London based Rock Club DJ Neil Kay. However, in early 1980 Parsons was asked
to leave and in came Dennis Stratton. And a further change came when Sampson
left to be replaced by ex-SAMSON drummer Clive Burr.

Stratton pre IRON MAIDEN had been involved with UNITED. This 1978 act, fronted
by Stratton, featured the veteran Andy Pyle on bass (of THE KINKS, SAVOY
BROWN, ALVIN LEE and JUICY LUCY), John Gosling on keyboards (THE KINKS) and
drummer Ron Berg (SAVOY BROWN). When Stratton quit to join IRON MAIDEN Pyle,
Berg and Gosling stuck together to create NETWORK.

Previous to UNITED Stratton was also playing the London clubs with REMUS DOWN
BOULEVARD. The band included two live tracks on the 1978 album 'Live- A Week
At The Bridge E16'.

IRON MAIDEN began their live action for the year by headlining the 'Metal For
Muthas' tour, which comprised of a bill featuring PRAYING MANTIS among others.
Their 'Running Free' debut single charted and IRON MAIDEN entered the history
books by becoming the first band to perform live on 'Top Of The Pops' since
THE WHO in 1973.

March 1980 IRON MAIDEN opened for JUDAS PRIEST's British tour. Opinion was
divided as to whether IRON MAIDEN were merely JUDAS PRIEST copyists or bona
fide contenders, both Di'Anno and Murray in particular seemingly emulating
their counterparts (Rob Halford and KK Downing) in the headline band in their
choice of stage gear. However, enough fans were impressed to launch the debut
IRON MAIDEN album, released in April, to number 4 in the British charts.
American editions of the album came with an extra track 'Sanctuary'.

Flushed with success the band undertook a well attended 42 date headline
British tour and IRON MAIDEN also put in a scorching performance at the annual
Reading Rock Festival headlined by UFO before setting off on a tour of Europe
opening for KISS.

With little knowledge of IRON MAIDEN's turbulent past, it came as something of
a surprise to many fans when the announcement came that Dennis Stratton had
quit upon the KISS tour's completion and was replaced by ex URCHIN and
BROADWAY BRATS guitarist Adrian Smith, but it didn't stop the crowds from
filling out a British headline tour and sending another single. In a rare
excursion for the band they had covered 'Women In Uniform', a track from the
legendary Australian band SKYHOOKS.

'Women In Uniform' was also the sole studio track on the Japanese import
'Live!! + One' EP, the three live tracks ('Sanctuary', 'Phantom Of The Opera'
and 'Drifter') having been recorded at a London Marquee show in July 1980.

With second album
'Killers', issued in February 1981, IRON MAIDEN succeeded in grinding
through a mammoth world tour, kicking off with a British headline tour
supported by French veterans TRUST. Further dates that took most of the year
that included headline dates in Japan and an American tour supporting JUDAS
PRIEST once more. Yet again, American editions came complete with an extra
track in 'Twilight Zone'.

MAIDEN finished off their American tour by playing dates with WHITESNAKE,
HUMBLE PIE and UFO and returned to Europe to perform festival dates
alongside KANSAS, BLUE OYSTER CULT and MOTÖRHEAD. Needless to say, such
incessant touring had made 'Killers' a gold album in Britain, France and
Japan.

On the peak of success fans were rightly stunned when PAUL DIANNO announced
he was quitting, apparently due to the strains of touring and rumours
quickly began circulating as to the identity of his replacement. Indeed word
alleged that IRON MAIDEN had secretly been auditioning singers whilst on
tour in the America!

Still, the smart money was on SAMSON vocalist Bruce 'Bruce' Dickinson and,
indeed, the man was announced as IRON MAIDEN's new vocalist shortly after
SAMSON appeared at the Reading Rock Festival and BRUCE DICKINSON promptly
made his live debut with IRON MAIDEN in Bologna during early 1982.

Dianno meantime created LONEWOLF then DIANNO for a far mellower outing than
fans really desired. The man would later toughen up considerably over the
years with BATTLEZONE and KILLERS but would always remain reliant on IRON
MAIDEN material.

IRON MAIDEN's third album, 'Number Of The Beast', released in March 1982
proved a milestone, breaking the band internationally and giving the band
numerous hit singles, including their first top ten smash with 'Run To The
Hills', in Britain. Due to contractual obligations with his previous
management Dickinson was unable to officially assist in the songwriting.

Another British tour proved enormously successful, as did European dates
with openers BLACKFOOT and, yet again, the band supported JUDAS PRIEST in
America. Other supports included stints with the SCORPIONS, .38 SPECIAL and
RAINBOW. The world tour was rounded off by Australian and Japanese
dates.

Prior to the recording of
the group's fourth album, 1983's 'Piece Of Mind', drummer Clive Burr was
replaced by former PAT TRAVERS and TRUST man Nicko McBrain. Ironically,
after a brief spell with ALCATRAZ, Burr joined TRUST for a short-lived stay
before forming the more melodically inclined STRATUS and PRAYING MANTIS.
McBrain had earlier in his career been a member of AXE, an outfit that
included now noted producer and CHARLIE guitarist Terry Thomas, and also
appears on albums by STREETWALKER and STRETCH. Just prior to joining up with
MAIDEN McBrain had been involved with INFORMER, a band comprising of
erstwhile STALLION vocalist John Elstar, ex SIDEWINDER / STALLION guitarist
STUART SMITH and WHITESNAKE/BLACK SABBATH bassist Neil Murray.

Following the album's release IRON MAIDEN launched into the by now
obligatory, mammoth world tour preceded by 'Piece Of Mind' entering the
American Billboard charts at number 127. The American tour started off with
support acts FASTWAY and SAXON with Canadians CONEY HATCH (a particular
favourite of Steve Harris) later replacing SAXON. Later guests were QUIET
RIOT.

In the latter part of 1983 the quintet travelled to Europe, where MICHAEL
SCHENKER GROUP opened, before appearing at one of the biggest Heavy Metal
festivals ever. A TV special in Dortmund as part of the 'Rock Pop' televised
concert series, the awesome bill also included SCORPIONS, JUDAS PRIEST,
KROUS, DEF LEPPARD, OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT and MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP
over two days.

IRON MAIDEN launched their brand new album, the Ancient Egyptian flavoured
in 1984 and the ensuing world tour saw the quintet performing their first
dates in Poland during the autumn of 1984. In 1985, the band performed a set
of seven sold out shows at the prestigious New York Radio City Music Hall
venue with support act QUEENSRYCHE. Further American supports were handled
by W.A.S.P., TWISTED SISTER and ACCEPT.

The 'World Slavery' tour caught IRON MAIDEN delivering the decibels to 26
countries over 200 shows and spawned a hit live video and album 'Live After
Death'.

During 1986 the band were
ready to try a more creative approach and, after recording in the Bahamas,
Amsterdam and New York, released the Sci-Fi inspired 'Somewhere In Time'
album heavily tinged with keyboard guitar workouts. Although the album was
an undoubted success the band have leaned towards the starker, stripped down
Metal sounds of yore on successive albums, often recording at Harris's home
studio.

IRON MAIDEN's 1988 album 'Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son' came the closest the
band ever came to producing a full blown concept album. The band was well
known for overblown epics, but this time the theme held together an entire
album.

The inevitable world tour shyed away from the systematic city by city tour
schedule and IRON MAIDEN blitzed their way through America and Europe by
hopping from one major festival to another. The schedule's highlight was
IRON MAIDEN headlining the "Monsters Of Rock' festival above KISS (IRON
MAIDEN being the only band KISS has ever agreed to play beneath since
1974!), DAVID LEE ROTH, MEGADETH, GUNS N'ROSES and HELLOWEEN to a record
breaking crowd of over 100, 000. Further dates in Europe led to an arena
tour of Britain.

1989 proved a quiet year for the band but an extremely busy time for it's
individual members. Both Smith and Dickinson released solo albums.
Predictably, BRUCE DICKINSON scored major chart success' with both his
album, 'Tattooed Millionaire', and a batch of hit singles. Smith meanwhile
found the going tough with his more AOR influenced project A.S.A.P.

IRON MAIDEN reassembled
early in 1990 to record 'No Prayer For The Dying'. For the first time in
seven years the band line-up changed, with Smith departing to concentrate on
solo work. Ex-GILLAN and WHITE SPIRIT guitarist Janick Gers, who had toured
with Dickinson as part of his solo band, soon landed the job.

Yet again the new album, debuting at number 2 in the British charts, paved
the way for a mammoth global tour. Opening with a low key club gig at Milton
Keynes the tour, a more stripped down back to basics affair, sped through
America before it was brought to an unforeseen close by the eruption of the
Gulf war making planned dates in Australia and Japan unfeasible.

During 1990 Murray toyed with the idea of creating a solo project with
American guitarist Nancy Chandler. Songs credited to Murray would turn up on
Chandler's 1993 album by the band CHEYENNE.

Steve Harris paid homage to two of his influences by covering the STRAY
track 'All In Your Mind' and GOLDEN
EARRING's 'Kill Me Ce Soir' as the B side to the 'Holy Smoke' single.
Christmas of that year saw IRON MAIDEN leap into the record books when their
latest single, 'Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter' became the first Heavy
Metal song to go straight into the British singles charts at number 1.
Unbelievably, Radio One refused to playlist the single, much to the band's
indignation!

'Fear Of The Dark' album heralded another change for the band as, for the
first time, sleeve artist Derek Riggs was not used. In came noted sci-fi
artist Melvyn Grant who lent the album cover a more up to date feel. Once
more IRON MAIDEN reached the British number 1 position in the album charts.

In mid 1991 IRON MAIDEN performed headlining dates in America with support
act ANTHRAX
and also headlined the Roskilde festival in Denmark appearing on a bill with
WINGER, PRIMUS
and THE
ALMIGHTY.

Throughout the tour rumours flew of BRUCE
DICKINSON's discontent within the band. The vocalist had been
strenuously pursuing his solo career as well as his new found additional
career as a novelist.

IRON MAIDEN performed their final gig with Dickinson at Pinewood Studios in
front of an audience of lucky members of the band's fan club. This turned
out to be no ordinary gig either, as magician Simon Drake, noted for his
gory stunts, put paid to members of the band prior to the finale of
Dickinson being ritually slain by Drake at the end of the televised show.

With BRUCE
DICKINSON having embarked on the solo trail IRON MAIDEN fans faced
uncertain times. Many rumours followed that HELLOWEEN
vocalist MICHAEL
KISKE had got the job and it was known that erstwhile LA
PAZ, MIDNIGHT
BLUE and PRAYING
MANTIS singer Doogie White had been asked back to audition twice. In the
end though, and much to fans amazement, IRON MAIDEN recruited ex WOLFSBANE
vocalist Blaze Bayley in 1994. However, recording for the band's tenth
studio album was slightly delayed when Bayley seriously injured his knee in
a motorbike accident. During this enforced lay-off Nicko McBrain took time
out to gig with pub rockers the PHIL
HILBORNE BAND during 1994.

Although IRON MAIDEN lost their deal with EMI in America during 1995
(although they remained signed to the London office) the new record, the
first to feature Bayley, entitled 'The X Factor' was widely acknowledged as
being a radical step for many IRON MAIDEN fans to follow. Bayley's vocals
came in for some vicious criticism and swathes of hardcore fans lost faith.
Rather interestingly the 'Lord Of The Flies' single featured a cover of UFO's
'Doctor Doctor' as a B-side.

Still, IRON MAIDEN toured heavily throughout the end of 1995 including dates
in such far flung places as Israel and South Africa, although a planned
Beirut show was cancelled by the authorities who insisted the show was
likely to incite riots.

IRON MAIDEN's British and European shows saw Doom Metal act MY
DYING BRIDE supporting as Steve Harris and Co were also able to perform
a full blown tour of the former eastern bloc territories, embracing
Bulgaria, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Rumania.

In early 1996 the group opted to play a one off club show at Nottingham's
Rock City venue, a date that saw PSYCHO
MOTEL, the latest band featuring Adrian Smith, supporting.

A mammoth 'Best Of The Beast' compilation arrived in September of 1996, the
most impressive variant being a gargantuan quadruple vinyl set complete with
lavish gatefold artwork and a limited edition book. A single, 'Virus', would
accompany the album, various B sides of which offered fans a chance to hear
archive IRON MAIDEN recordings of 'Sanctuary' and 'Wrathchild' from the
'Metal For Muthas' compilation and 'Prowler' and 'Invasion' lifted from 'The
Soundhouse Tapes'.

Throughout 1997 IRON MAIDEN kept a low profile as they worked on a brand new
album for release in 1998, although Harris did announce plans for his own
record label, Beast Records. Steve's first signings were DIRTY
DEEDS, the London based group fronted by ex CHARIOT
main man Pete Franklin.

IRON MAIDEN set out on tour once again during 1998 although attendance wise
their star was definitely waning, the band's loyal audience drifting away in
obvious dissatisfaction at Bayley's abilities. South American shows had the
band playing to capacity arena crowds though but with the political
situation between Chile and Britain aggravated by the General Pinochet
affair IRON MAIDEN wisely pulled out of shows there, ANTHRAX
taking their stead. Meanwhile BRUCE
DICKINSON's album 'Chemical Wedding' and tour was going great guns.

By early 1999 press
speculation and the wish of the band's fans to see the band back in the top
league finally won the day as Bayley was ousted by a returning BRUCE
DICKINSON. Adrian Smith also rejoined making IRON MAIDEN an unexpected if
welcome three guitar assault! Bayley would later make a return with his new
Metal act BLAZE
and the resulting 'Silicon Messiah' album still retaining management links
with the Sanctuary stable.
The rejuvenated IRON MAIDEN wowed America with a sold out 17 date tour before
taking on European venues. Meantime a whole slew of tribute albums arrived in
the stores such as Swedish efforts 'Made In Tribute' and 'Maiden Scandinavia',
the American Meteor City 'Slave To The Power' release as well as PAUL
DIANNO cropping up on '666 The Number One Beast'.

The subsequent 'Brave New World' album (internet reports of an album title of
'Majesty Of Gaia' would be proved false) vindicated the return of Dickinson
with a vengeance, this despite tracks such as 'Nomad', 'Dream Of Mirrors' and
'Mercenary' being re-worked versions of tracks originally demoed for the
'Virtual XI' sessions. IRON MAIDEN scored a number 3 album in Germany with the
'Wicker Man' single going top ten in Britain. The album would blaze a trail
across the international charts landing at number 7 in their homeland, 39 in
the USA and even scoring a number one in the Heavy Metal strongholds both
Sweden and Greece. Generally, the European continent's national charts found
'Brave New World' inhabiting the upper reaches, a definitive renewal of
fortunes.

A batch of European festival performances were cancelled when Gers sustained
injuries after falling offstage in Mannheim. IRON MAIDEN were back in action
touring America in the latter half of the year with support from HALFORD
and QUEENSRYCHE.
Although back in demand and pulling strong crowds IRON MAIDEN's resurgence was
marred by the stabbing of four fans at their Los Angeles Verizon wireless
Amphitheatre gig.

Quite bizarrely news emerged in 2000 that one of IRON MAIDEN's earliest
guitarists Tony Parsons had created an IRON MAIDEN tribute band named METALWORKS
2000 including ex-ALICE
COOPER and THE
ALMIGHTY guitarist Pete Friezin and ex JUDAS
PRIEST drummer Les Binks. Another ex MAIDEN man erstwhile, singer PAUL
DIANNO, billed as PAUL
DIANNO AND THE BEAST, would also fan the flames in early 2001 issuing a
live album comprising entirely of IRON MAIDEN songs.

A more surreal addition to the family came with the emergence of Californian
act IRON MAIDENS. A quite unique tribute band being the first all female
homage to IRON MAIDEN. The act includes some highly respected players in their
own right featuring the PHANTOM
BLUE duo of guitarist Josephine and drummer Linda McDonald, PROZACT
PRINCESS singer Jenny, ex-BANDIT
guitarist Sara and NEW
EDEN bassist Melanie Sisneros (a.k.a. "Stephanie Harris").

IRON MAIDEN themselves would bounce back in the expected spectacular style
with the mammoth 'Live At The Rock In Rio' album in March of 2002. The same
month the band would announce two benefit shows at the Brixton Academy in
London in aid of former drummer Clive Burr who had been diagnosed with
multiple sclerosis. Demand was such the run was extended to three sold out
nights and in a further move the band informed fans that all proceeds from the
next single, 'Run To The Hills', would be devoted to the MS fund. The single
proved to be eminently collectable in three formats boasting exclusive tracks
on each including archive 1982 live tracks featuring Burr on drums. The DVD
version of 'Rock In Rio' would top the UK music video charts on it's first
week of release. Later in the year IRON MAIDEN would pitch in further to aid
the Clive Burr Trust auctioning off a mammoth selection of band rarities
including a full Nicko McBrain drum kit, autographed guitars and even an Eddie
stage prop from the ‘No Prayer For The Dying’ tour.

As BRUCE
DICKINSON unveiled plans for a further solo album and his intention to
master the art of flying large passenger aircraft rumours also surfaced that NICKO
McBRAIN had recently united with erstwhile ANTHRAX
guitarist Dan Spitz for an undisclosed band project. This revelation would
come as unexpectedly as Spitz had been out of the Rock n' Roll limelight for
many years, becoming a vocal Christian since his departure from the band and
devoting himself to gaining qualifications in the art of watchmaking. By late
December MEGADETH
bassist David Ellefson was also seemingly involved in this venture.

On September 7th a trio of IRON MAIDEN players — drummer Nicko McBrain,
guitarist Janick Gers, and vocalist Bruce Dickinson — surprised DEEP
PURPLE fans by joining the Rock veterans on stage during their London
Hammersmith Apollo gig for a rendition of the classic 'Smoke On The Water'. A
further treat came on October 21st when famed American Progressive Metal
outfit DREAM
THEATER gave priviliged fans at their second night at the London Astoria
by performing the entirity of the 'Number Of The Beast' album live. The band,
who faithfully represented the album with the exception of a Jazz flavoured
'Gangland', even rigged up a DREAM
THEATER logo backdrop executed in the classic Maiden logo script.

November proved of great importance to fans as the band launched the leviathan
3 CD box set ‘Eddies Archives’, a collection of rare live material issued
through Columbia Records dating from 1979 tracks right through until the
band’s headline show at Castle Donington in 1988. Incorporated would be
‘Friday Rock Show’ sessions from 1979, material pulled from the Reading
Festival in 1980 and 1982 plus a compilation of B sides. In keeping with
tradition the whole affair was lavishly packaged coming clad in a limited
edition silver Eddie embossed casket. Besides the music the collection added
an Eddie head shot glass and a family tree on parchment scroll. A further
album, ‘Edward The Great’, would be released in North America the same day
as ‘Eddie’s Archives’ on 4th November.

The band would spend early 2003 in production of a new studio album 'Dance Of
Death' working with producer Kevin Shirley. This outing would mark the band's
first studio effort to be mixed in 5.1 surround sound. A mammoth DVD package
'Visions Of The Beast' emerged that July, chronicling over three hours of
music and comprising more than 30 promotional videos. IRON MAIDEN would be
confirmed as the headline act at the Castle Donington 'Download' festival in
June, the only UK date on their 'Give Me Ed … 'Til I'm Dead' world tour.
Oddly US band MURDERDOLLS
would be confirmed as main support for the entire European leg. US dates
commencing in July saw IRON MAIDEN headlining a strong package tour allied
with DIO
and MOTÖRHEAD.
UK gigs had rising Welsh act FUNERAL
FOR A FRIEND as support. October European shows saw German act GAMMA
RAY acting as openers. However, progress was marred when Bruce Dickinson
came down with influenza and severe laryngitis, necessitating the cancellation
of shows in Rotterdam, Holland, Wroclaw, Poland and Helsinki in Finland.

When 'Dance Of Death' was delivered to the public the album garnered the by
now customary score of top ten global chart positions with no. 1's achieved in
Iceland, Sweden, Greece and Italy. In the USA the record debuted at no. 18,
selling over 40,000 copies in its first week of sale. Live dates into 2004 saw
South American dates in January - visiting Argentina, Brazil and Chile, a
further burst of US and Canadian shows with Sweden's rising stars ARCH
ENEMY lending support to the British veterans four show run at New York
City's Hammerstein Ballroom then Japanese gigs in February.

By February IRON MAIDEN had performed to over one and a half million people in
28 countries. In celebration the band issued a special release entitled 'No
More Lies: The Dance Of Death Souvenir EP'. This included remixed versions of
'Journeyman' and the epic 'Paschendale' along with live video of the title
track. 'Dance Of Death' itself would be given some very special treatment,
issued in DVDA format with Hi-definition 24-bit/96 Khz 5.1 surround sound. The
upgraded version of the album also added promotional videos for 'Wildest
Dreams' and 'Rainmaker'.

Early May found BRUCE
DICKINSON providing some noteable sounds on his BBC radio 'Rock Show'
programme, guesting on a cover of DEEP
PURPLE's 'Black Night' with THERAPY?
and on a rendition of BLACK
SABBATH's 'Black Sabbath' with FUNERAL
FOR A FRIEND. He would also turn his hand to narration, providing the
voice for the BBC world service documentaries 'Legends Of Rock'. Later that
same month ex-IRON MAIDEN guitarist Dennis Stratton announced a new band
formation dubbed THE
DENIAL, in union with original JUDAS
PRIEST singer AL
ATKINS.

NICKO
McBRAIN stepped out of IRON MAIDEN activities briefly for a one off show
in South Florida to celebrate his 52nd birthday on 5th June. McBrain would
unite with members of DEEPSET,
Jonathan Murphy on vocals and Rick Baum on guitar, with the BLACK
SABBATH, WHITE
LION and GREAT
WHITE credited Dave 'The Beast' Spitz on bass to perform a set of covers
billed as WRATH CHILD. By July this band unit, adding FAILSAFE's
Chris Proano on second guitar, had evolved into McBRAIN
DAMAGE, booking US shows throughout the Summer.

IRON MAIDEN's Bruce Dickinson, Adrian Smith and Nicko McBrain would be
included on the special guest roll call for the 'Miller Strat Pack' concert on
24th September at London's Wembley Arena. Held in aid of the Nordoff-Robbins
Music Therapy the concert celebrated 50 years of the famous Fender
Stratocaster guitar.

In the absence of a new album, and delays in BRUCE
DICKINSON's next solo outing, IRON MAIDEN plugged the gap somewhat with a
'Powerslave' tin lunchbox, a 'Somewhere In Time' 18" action figure with
glowing red eyes, motion-activated lights and movement and an official 2005
calendar. Further IRON MAIDEN product would be delivered in October, with 'The
History Of IRON MAIDEN - Part 1; The Early Days' DVD. This package comprised
the 'Live at The Rainbow' and 'The Beast Over Hammersmith' concert films,
seven songs recorded at the 1983 Dortmund 'Rock & Pop' festival, nine
tracks captured at The Ruskin Arms in 1980, a previously unreleased 'Live At
Donington' shoot, a newly filmed history of the band, 1981 'Top Of The Pops'
performances of both 'Women In Uniform' and 'Sanctuary' plus documentary
footage from 'Rock & Pop' German television and Granada TV's 'Colourbox'.

On the television front, BRUCE
DICKINSON featured as presenter for a documentary 'Flying Heavy Metal',
charting the evolution of the passenger aeroplane, and guested on Discovery
Home channel's 'Trainspotting'.

IRON MAIDEN announced plans for a huge live campaign throughout the Summer of
2005. A gig at the 51,000 capacity Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg would sell out
completely in less than two and a half hours. Another major gig saw the band
performing at the 55,000 capacity Parc de Princes Stadium in Paris. The 6th
July concert at the 12,000 capacity Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland sold
out within 30 minutes of tickets going on sale, the promoters swiftly adding
another show for the following day.

IRON MAIDEN issued a special 25th anniversary single of 'The Number Of The
Beast' in January of 2005. Various formats, including enhanced CD, a limited
7-Inch coloured vinyl with free poster, and 12-Inch picture disc, carried live
recordings from the Clive Burr charity shows at Brixton Academy in March 2002.

It is a little known fact that IRON
MAIDEN are not the only IRON MAIDEN, in 1966 in Basildon Essex a group formed
under the name IRON MAIDEN.
after building up a cult following playing there dark and doomy style of Rock
very similar to Black Sabbath's first album. In 1969 they went into the studio
to record what would have been their first album, the album entitled
"Maiden Voyage" was never released due to the fact that the record
label (Gemini Records) who signed the band went bankrupt, the band then
decided the split and went there separate ways.In 1998 English reissue label
Audio Archives released a re-mastered version of the album from the original
master tapes. The album is a classic piece of Sabbath style Doom-metal, and is
sadly a forgotten masterpiece, by a forgotten band, who deserve some credit
for helping to create Heavy Metal.

The original IRON MAIDEN are

Trevor Thoms - Guitar

Steve Drewett - Vocals

Barry Skeels - Bass

Paul Reynolds - Drums (1966 -1970)

Steve Chapman - Drums (1970)

1966 - 1970

A highly recommended album (If you
can get a hold of it, which is unlikely, but I have it, so who cares, ha ha
ha)

(Note: the two bands have no
connection whatsoever accept for the name)

Please visit my other site
type in dangerous106.tripod.com and click on the top (yellow) Iron Maiden
logo, to see my site about this long lost band.